Kentucky seemed in charge in the opening half, leading 7-0 on a 1-yard Wilbur Jamerson run. Santa Clara punter Hall Haynes contributed on offense scoring the second of two Santa Clara touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead.

Kentucky pulled within one, 14-13, in the fourth when Parilli hooked up with Emery Clark on a 52-yard pass play. The Californians gambled on a wide pitch-out to Bernie Vogel as the clock ran down and Vogel took it 16 yards to make the final score 21-13.

The game was Bear Bryant and Kentucky's first major bowl appearance. Santa Clara's 3,300-mile, four-day trip by train to Miami marked its only appearance in the Orange Bowl.